Industry NewsiTheatrics Announces Restructuring, New Focus on Developing Original Works From BIPOC VoicesBest known for adapting Broadway musicals for young performers, the iTheatrics team will now include Director of Education Mary-Catherine Chambliss and producing associate Alex Robertson.
By
Logan Culwell-Block
November 18, 2021
Mary-Catherine Chambliss and Alex Robertson
iTheatrics, best known for developing adaptations of Broadway musicals for young performers and as the creators and producers of the Junior Theater Festivals, has announced an internal restructuring and expanded focus that will see the company developing original works for young performers. The company hopes the initiative will help increase equity and inclusion in arts education, giving schools and local theatres more diverse options of stories and writers to choose from when planning youth theatre productions.
The restructuring includes two new hires: Mary-Catherine Chambliss, who will serve as director of education, and Alex Robertson, who joins as producing associate.
Chambliss joins following her tenure as education director at a number of NYC-area schools, including The Anderson School, Professional Performing Arts School, Simon Baruch Junior High, and Yorkville East Middle School. She is a graduate of Troy University.
"Theatre connects," shares Chambliss. "I teach theatre not to create the next Broadway star, but to help shape and mold the principles that any person will need in life. In the classroom, we witness how a group of young people grow as we tell stories through musicals. We then get to share that growth with the cast, the crew, the parents, the guardians, the families, volunteers, community, and beyond. I have the responsibility to engage with students on their journey as learners and performers, and I have the opportunity to create and develop tools, resources, and connections to help educators in the process of making the world a better place one musical at a time."
Robertson is a recent graduate of the University of Hartford's Hartt School, and is currently associate producer for the upcoming NYC premiere of Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, beginning performances at the New Victory Theater December 10. Robertson also co-produced Fairycakes Off-Broadway.
"Theatre is universal," says Robertson. "As a young producer of color, I have not seen too many people who looked like me making decisions in the entertainment industry, and I want to change that. Students need to know they can have an impact in theatre no matter what career path they choose. I bring a fresh perspective to the creative development department at iTheatrics, and I plan to bring more underrepresented artists’ work to the light."
Robertson and Chambliss performing at JTF, in 2014 and 2009 respectively.
Both Chambliss and Robertson join the company already members of the iTheatrics family—both are alumni of iTheatrics' Junior Theater Festivals, a series of events that see theatre-loving kids nationwide gathering together to perform, hone their craft, and celebrate all things youth theatre.
"iTheatrics’ mission has always been to make the world a better place one musical at a time," says iTheatrics Founder and CEO Timothy Allen McDonald. "Our company-wide restructure and new hires are perfect examples of this goal. We first met Mary-Catherine and Alex when they were theatre kids at our Junior Theater Festival, and now they are an integral part of re-imagining the future of theatre."
The restructuring has also seen promotions for several longtime members of the iTheatrics team, including Susan Fuller, now serving as senior vice president; Lindsay Lupi, now vice president of education; Daniel Mertzlufft now director of creative development; Laura Jo Schuster as editor and director of social media; and Jiana Odland as director of educational programming and DEI advisor. Former education director Marty Johnson will newly serve as director of programming for the Junior Theater Festivals.
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PHOTOS: Go Inside the 2020 Junior Theater Festivals
PHOTOS: Go Inside the 2020 Junior Theater Festivals
These events in Atlanta and Sacramento gathered young performers from around the world for a weekend of celebrating theatre.
40 PHOTOS
Junior Theater Festival Executive Producer and iTheatrics Founding Chairman Timothy Allen McDonald welcomes attendees to Pathways to Success. 7,000 people participated in the 2020 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta.
Students from Red Phoenix Theatre Company in Lawrenceville, GA and Play On Players in Duluth, GA perform selections from Disney's Newsies JR. at the 2020 JTF Atlanta
Students from Ohlook Performing Arts perform selections from Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In A Play!” JR. at the New Works Festival at the 2020 JTF Atlanta
Students from Plaza Academy perform selections from Drowsy Chaperone JR. at the 2020 JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase
Students from Inspiration Stage in Sugar Land, TX perform selections from Roald Dahl's Matilda JR. at the 2020 JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase
Students from BRAVO perform selections from Disney's Moana JR. at the 2020 JTF Atlanta New Works Showcase
Mrs. Doubtfire on Broadway's Rob McClure surprises the audience with performances from the upcoming Broadway musical at JTF Atlanta
Mrs. Doubtfire on Broadway’s Rob McClure and Analise Scarpaci perform a song from the upcoming Broadway show at JTF Atlanta
Playbill's Felicia Fitzpatrick and Logan Culwell-Block at the Saturday Playbill Trivia Showdown
Disney+'s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series stars Joshua Bassett (Ricky) and Olivia Rodrigo (Nini) perform at the 2020 Junior Theater Festival’s Pathways to Success panel
Marcus Woollen for the Junior Theater Festival
Festival correspondents and Broadway stars Isabella Russo and Luca Padovan (School of Rock) during the festival’s Pathways to Success panel
Marcus Woollen for the Junior Theater Festival
Actors Nicholas Christopher and Jennifer Locke (Hamilton) during the festival’s Pathways to Success panel
Playbill's Logan Culwell-Block and Felicia Fitzpatrick host a second Playbill Trivia Showdown on Sunday at JTF Atlanta
Baayork Lee (A Chorus Line) accepts the 2020 Broadway Junior Spirit Award with PS 124 principal Alice Hom. The award is given to a group which embodies the spirit of educational musical theater.
Freddie G Outstanding Production winner Uptown Music Theatre from New Orleans performing “He Lives In You” from Disney’s The Lion King JR. at the Freddie G closing ceremony
Woodford Theatre wins the 2020 Playbill Community Service Award at JTF Atlanta
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Acting Upon Faith Productions from Van Zandt, LA performs “Be Prepared” from Disney’s The Lion King JR.
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Conwell Kids Drama Program in Jersey City perform “Let The Sun Shine On” from Frozen JR. during the Freddie G Awards Show
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' Michael Di Bianco and Lane Beauchamp present the Freddie G Outstanding Student Direction & Choreography award at the 2020 Junior Theater Festival Awards Ceremony
Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient Mountain City Center for the Arts in Frostburg, MD, perform “Oh The Thinks You Can Think” from Seussical JR. during the Freddie G Awards ceremony
Students from Mill Creek Musical Theatre in Nolensville, TN, perform “Human Heart” from Once On This Island JR. during the Freddie G Awards ceremony
Students from Tampa Bay Performing Arts in Palm Harbor, FL and Magic Curtain Productions in Orlando, FL take part in the Junior Theater Festival Tech Olympics
Caissie Levy (Caroline, or Change; Frozen) performs the Junior Theater Festival’s headlining concert
Marcus Woollen for the Junior Theater Festival
Timothy Allen McDonald kicks off JTF West 2020 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento, California
West Lake School for the Performing Arts student Amarech Mendez performs the National Anthem
Students from Musical Mayhem Productions in Elk Grove, California perform selections from Mary Poppins JR. during Saturday morning adjudications.
Broadway Newsies director Jeff Calhoun gives Musical Mayhem students feedback during adjudications
Lightning Thief composer and lyricist Rob Rokicki works with the Musical Mayhem students
Disney Theatrical Productions President and Producer Thomas Schumacher gives the JTF West festival keynote
Students from Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre perform selections from Disney's Newsies JR. at the New Works Showcase
Students from Poison Apple Productions perform selections from The Drowsy Chaperone JR. at the New Works Showcase
Students from KidsAlive! perform selections from Elephant & Piggie's We Are in a Play! JR. at the New Works Showcase
Spark of Creation student Celeste Javier performing the title role of Disney's Moana JR. in the New Works Showcase
Students from British Theatre Academy in Leatherhead, Surrey perform selections from Roald Dahl's Matilda JR. at the New Works Showcase
Jason Gotay performs from the upcoming Off-Broadway musical Between the Lines during the festival's Pathways to Success event
Musical Mayhem Productions, a Freddie G Outstanding Production recipient, performs a selection from Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins JR. for all festival attendees at the Freddie G Awards Ceremony
Outstanding performers from the festival, named JTF West All-Stars, perform during the JTF West Freddie G Awards show
Marcus Woollen
Dear Edwina, Junie B. Jones, and Enchanted writers Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich perform the headlining concert
Fame, Footloose, and The Big One-Oh! writer Dean Pitchford performs at the headlining concert
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